SOUTHEND United made it four league wins in a row after seeing off 10 man Northampton Town 2-0 at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The two teams were evenly matched until an awful error from Cobblers goalkeepers Jordan Archer, gifted the Shrimpers the lead and a numerical advantage just 20 minutes from the end.

Archer somehow spilt a cross from Myles Weston before bringing down Barry Corr after the striker had latched on to the loose ball.

Archer was sent off for the foul and Corr then added even more punishment by firing home the resulting penalty.

David Worrall then completed the scoring in the 79th minute to ensure another successful afternoon for Phil Brown’s side.

Before that late drama, there had been little excitement.

But Blues did waste a great chance to open the scoring after just five minutes when a well struck volley from new boy John-Joe O’Toole was parried out by Archer in to the path of Jack Payne.

But the attacking midfielder could only prod his six yard shot wide of the right post.

Moments later, Corr fired inches over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area before Blues again went close to scoring in the 33rd minute when a low shot from Worrall flew across the face of goal.

Goalscoring chances were few and far between after that but the Shrimpers momentarily threatened on the stroke of half time when Michael Timlin’s inswinging free-kick was parried to safety by Archer.

At the start of the second half, Northampton almost broke the deadlock when an unmarked Kelvin Langmead headed a right wing corner from Darren Carter wide of the right post when he should have done better.

Blues hit back with John White shooting inches wide of the left post from 25 yards before a calamitous error from Archer gifted the home-side the lead.

The on loan Tottenham Hotspur shot-stopper somehow spilt a routine left wing cross from Weston while under no pressure before also bringing down Corr after the Irishman had latched on to the loose ball.

Archer was immediately sent off for the foul by referee Keith Stroud, meaning Northampton had to bring substitute goalkeeper Matt Duke on in place of Ricky Ravenhill.

However, Duke’s first job was to pick the ball out of the back of the net as Corr slammed the spot-kick high in to the left hand side of the net.

After going in front, Blues continued to attack with Duke doing well to block a goalbound effort from Worrall before the experienced shot-stopper also parried away a curling, 20 yard shot from Weston.

But, with 79 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers doubled their lead, with Worrall bagging his fourth goal of the season.

His latest effort was created by Weston who sprinted down the left flank before delivering a low, cross which Wirrall fired home, with his left foot, from six yards.

Blues made a trio of substitutions after doubling their lead with Will Atkinson, Shaq Coulthirst and Gary Deegan all entering the action to help the Shrimpers comfortably see out the closing stages.